UPDATE: The unruly passenger has been identified as 23-year-old Alexander Michael Herrera of Arizona.
AP reports Herrera made “unusual statements” before attempting to open the plane door, and crew and passengers used “shoelaces and seatbelt extensions” to bind him until the plane made a landing.
Original story below.
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An Alaska Air passenger today attempted to open a cabin door mid-flight, but a crisis was averted by the heroic actions of passengers and crew.
According to tweets from KOIN-TV reporter Brent Weisberg, Alaska Air Flight 132 — carrying 137 passengers from Anchorage to Portland International Airport — was 10 minutes from landing when a passenger seated in Row 17 made his wild move.
The unruly passenger was restrained by passengers and crew, preventing a depressurization crisis. He was detained by authorities at the airport.
#BREAKING: @alaskaair rep: incident occurred 10 mins before landing. Passenger was seated in row 17 when he tried to open a cabin door.
— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) May 27, 2013
#BREAKING:Photo from a passenger on @alaskaair Flight 132 after a man tried to open a door mid-flight. @koinnews twitter.com/BrentKOIN/stat…
— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) May 27, 2013
According to Flightaware.com, Flight 132 was scheduled to arrive in Portland at 5:20 a.m. local time.
